Semaglutide , marketed as Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy, is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that helps to regulate blood sugar levels and promote weight loss
Weight loss stabilizes after 12 to 18 months, but insulin sensitivity, blood sugar control, blood pressure, and lipid levels remain improved
Factors that may contribute to reflux symptoms with semaglutide include: Prolonged gastric retention increasing intragastric pressure Nausea and retching, which can compromise sphincter integrity Changes in eating patterns and meal composition Pre-existing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that becomes symptomatic Clinical experience and patient reports suggest that some individuals do develop new-onset reflux symptoms or experience worsening of pre-existing GERD after initiating semaglutide therapy
Back Couzin-Frankel, J (22 Sept 2023), 'Sidelined', Science , 381/6664, 1274-77